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francoisehardly · 8 years ago

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Plans Shplans

My weekend in Paris was fantastic in the sense that I got to see my dear Engly friend and hike around Paris a bit, but sort of not ideal on many levels as the two of us just couldn’t plan shit. I made one dinner ressie, and it was very nice, but other than that we roamed around. Roaming has its merits. We saw things we didn’t intend to see, unexpected flea markets, little nooks and crannies galore. But we did tend to walk in circles a bit. She was in a post-work week daze, I was in a post freeze/new life haze. The combo made for some interesting decision making, eg. going to a place with a EUR10 prix fixe for lunch. What? Never in a million years would I consider that stateside, or really anywhere, except here. This weekend. In our glazed over dazy haze.

Unsurprisingly, the meal was lacking in a lot. Namely, flavor. However, the company and the experience was truly priceless. Somehow it was a bit pathetic and a lot of hilarious. I will forever remember the sensation of sawing through the toughest steak on the planet wondering a) is it even a meat? b) will I get carpal tunnel from this? and then looking up to see my horristricken friend’s face as she watched the neighboring raclette machine in action. It was one of those old timey standy uppy ones, that is basically just two clothes irons pressing the cheese in middair, resulting in a waterfall of melted goo. I love cheese, but even the sight of that put me off.

The rest of our time was a series of foibles, indecision, mishaps and a lot of shoulder shrugging. It was also full of deep belly, tears squriting out eyeholes laughter. The kind that one really doesn’t experience at a perfect 5 star restaurant where everythins is “a-MAZ-ing”.

I was reflecting on my weekend as I sat on my train back to the village Sunday afternoon. Recovering from a tenshion headache, trying to read a magazine, and wolfing down a bag of Haribo “Polka Mix”, I found myself smiling about the great time had with a truly wonderful person. Someone who is still great even after a day of aimless wandering and a terrible meal is a rare thing, I concluded.

My thoughts were interrupted by the high pitched chrips of young children. Just when I thought the family of four was going to pass me by, they sat themselves down in the fourspot next to me. Inwardly, my eyes rolled and I braced myself for a touch of annoyance. Then I recognized something familiar. I noticed the little girl, roughly 7, was laughing and whining some sort of “oh no...” lament in French. She started giggling, then the little boy a bit younger also started giggling. Papa was then making comforting noises, but also laughing a bit. Nothing stern or akin to a reprimand. Maman also said a few words of comfort, then there was silence and they all giggled in unison. I was charmed by them, so I glanced over to take in a delightful family. As I looked over, my attention was taken by a small shape on the window. The little girl saw me looking and gasped in surprise, then started giggling.

I had no choice but to join her.

#family #paris #jenesaispourquoi #plans #timing #wandering #thelementofsurprise #sometimesthebestplansarenoplans

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